CDS chopper crash: K'taka mourns its son-in-law Lt Col Harjinder Singh
Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Dec, 2021 12:01 PM
Udupi (Karnataka), Dec 9 (IANS) Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh who died in the tragic helicopter crash along with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and others, had been married to Prafulla from Karnataka.
Prafulla is the native of Salmaru village near Karkala town in Udupi district. A pall of gloom descended on the family after the news of the tragedy broke out. The entire Udupi district and the state is now mourning the death of its brave son-in-law.
Harjinder Singh and Prafulla liked each other and got married 15 years ago. The couple has a daughter. Harjinder Singh worked as the secretary to CDS Bipin Rawat.
The family members of Prafulla remember Harjinder Singh visiting the house four years ago. Puspa, Prafulla's elder sister recalled how Harjinder smilingly spoke to all in the family and remained humble. "He was a friendly and affectionate person. He behaved well with everyone. He also took care of his colleagues with empathy. Prafulla's brother has gone to New Delhi to attend the funeral," she said.
Family members explained that, though they are in a state of shock, Prafulla, the wife of Late Harjiinder Singh, is calling the family members to remain calm and courageous at this hour of crisis. Prafulla's sister's husband Valerian stated that she is displaying exemplary courage and pacifying family members when the tragedy has struck her.
"Harjinder Singh was a friendly type of person. He was as cool as a kid," he remembered.
The force said that positive identification of only three mortal remains -- Gen Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brig L.S. Lidder -- has been possible as of now, and their mortal remains will be released to the next of kin for final rites as desired by the respective families.
Almost 15 months after the farmers' agitation began against the (now scrapped) farm laws and other issues, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that led the protest, said on Thursday that it has suspended the agaitation after receiving positive assurances from the government on their demands, adding that the borders of Delhi will be cleared by Saturday.
India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, on Thursday extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights till January 31.Earlier, India had announced plans to allow resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services from December 15 with certain conditions.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the country's top security officers held a meeting on Wednesday over the situation arising out of the IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others onboard the ill-fated helicopter.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the farmers protesting along the borders of the national capital over agricultural issues, have agreed to the draft proposal prepared by the Central government, and is expected make a "major announcement" on Thursday. A meeting is likely to be held on Thursday noon to decide the further strategy of the movement.
